MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- The smell of freshly-cut grass permeated the chilling night air as Felix Field came alive again Nov. 16 when players and more than 100 fans gathered for the first set of playoff games of the Commanding General’s Tackle Football League.The four teams fought for their respective spots in this week’s championship game in the single elimination-style playoffs. The winner of the league title will compete in the upcoming “Best of the West” match against the top team from Camp Pendleton.Squaring off for the first game of the evening was 1st Tank Battalion and the top-ranked Headquarters Battalion team. Although their scores were static at 7-6 before the half, Tanks successfully fought to maintain their slim lead until the end, securing their advancement into the finals.The second game of the night did not lack in its excitement as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment took on the combined Combat Logistics Battalion 7/Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 team. Even though the scoreboard showed a 3/4 shutout, 18-0, at the end of the game, each team fought admirably until the end of the fourth quarter.“The game went well for us,” said 3/4 head coach Joe Ramirez. “When we first played this team earlier in the season, they played pretty hard. This game, though, we changed things up and came out with some new plays we were saving and everything worked out.”Right from the kickoff until well into the first quarter, both teams seemed to parallel each other during their possessions with a pattern of short gains, losses and punts. 3/4 was able to break this trend as they began completing passes and pushing up the field with successful running plays, but were forced to punt when they could not complete a first down.A well-timed blitz by 3/4 ended in a hard-hitting sack, carrying the quarterback almost 10 yards and into the CLB-7/MWSS-374 end zone. But flags on the play voided the safety and CLB-7/MWSS-374 was eventually forced to punt.“3/4 has some very big guys,” said Jelani Swims, CLB-7/MWSS-374’s quarterback. “They are very big and very fast.”With steady progress up the field, 3/4 made their way into enemy territory until a successful run netted them a first touchdown. Although the subsequent field goal attempt was no good, the team’s spirits seemed lifted as they pushed into the second quarter with 6-0 on the board.“We played well as a team tonight,” said Mike Brandow, quarterback for 3/4. “We put in a lot of practice for this game and put some points on the board early, which I think really helped us.”The 3/4 kickoff to CLB-7/MWSS-374 was fumbled on the return, only to be recovered by the quick hands of another CLB-7/MWSS-374 player on their own seven yard line. 3/4’s defense managed to push them back behind the chains, and CLB-7/MWSS-374 recovered another of their fumbled balls in the nick of time.As the fourth down came around, CLB-7/MWSS-374 decided to try for a pass, but as 3/4 defenders kept receivers at bay, Swims ran the ball through tackles for nearly 30 yards and completed their first down.However, the momentum was not enough as the 3/4 defense kept their counterparts at a stalemate until a turnover was forced. It did not take long for 3/4 to muscle their way into the end zone again, extending their lead to 12-0.“Our defense is the best there is in the league and they did a great job holding them back the entire game,” said Brandow. “It’s always a team effort, though; that’s what it’s all about.”Brandow, who could be heard cheering on his team’s defenses the entire game, credited the hard work of all the players throughout the season and recent practices for their victories.As the game clock ticked down closer to halftime, 3/4 regained control of the ball after a punt. A number of penalties against CLB-7/MWSS-374 brought 3/4 closer to the goal line, and a short pass was all that was needed to bring their lead to a commanding 18-0.With only 20 seconds remaining in the half, CLB-7/MWSS-374 scrambled to make their way up the field, only to be met with firm pressure from 3/4, who blocked passes and brought Swims down far behind the line of scrimmage. Although a flag on the play called for a repeat of the down, CLB-7/MWSS-374 lost possession as the clock ticked to zero.Suddenly, the entire arena was plunged into complete darkness. A timer malfunction had caused the lights at the field to turn off prematurely. To the delight of fans and players who waited patiently in the dark, the lights finally flickered back on just as halftime ended.The third quarter began with CLB-7/MWSS-374 being slammed hard on their fleeting advances, and they soon punted.Crowds and players alike gasped in excitement as a misguided 3/4 pass soared directly into the chest of a CLB-7/MWSS-374 defender, ricocheting the ball high into the air where 3/4 Marine recovered it and ran up the field despite defenders hanging off of him. 3/4 turned the ball over after failing to complete a first down.Although 3/4 entered into the regular season late after returning home from an Iraq deployment, this game really showcased the spirit and tenacity of the team, said Brandow. As the fourth quarter got underway, the score was still unchanged and CLB-7/MWSS-374 took control. But after a deep sack, Swims, who led his team in rushing, ran the ball for a first down after being pressured by defenders.Another fumble that was recovered by 3/4 seemed to spell certain doom for CLB-7/MWSS-374 as less than four minutes remaining eroded away on the clock. In a seemingly surreal dive, a determined CLB-7/MWSS-374 defender was able to intercept a pass less than 30 seconds later, giving hope to their deteriorating situation. Although a valiant effort was made, the 3/4 defense went into overdrive, curbing all forward attempts until they sacked the quarterback with only seconds remaining. The horn sounded and finalized the score of 18-0.“They almost got us in the end with the passing, but we adjusted a little and kept them out of the end zone,” said Ramirez, who received a coach’s shower of ice water on the sidelines. “We didn’t get as much practice as we wanted to [during the long break].”“We were hoping that we would play Headquarters Battalion in the championship, but now we are going to go against Tanks,” said Ramirez. “Watching them out here tonight, they really look like a different team than when we played them last week and we look forward to the big game.”The “Best of the West” competition will be played Dec. 10 at noon at Felix Field.